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A SKELETON CLOCK AT MEALY’S IN CASTLECOMER

Monday, March 21st, 2016

A skeleton clock, pewter, an early depiction of Waterford city and a set of 17 mahogany dining chairs from Cork Chamber of Commerce will all feature at Mealy’s Spring Fine Art sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on March 22 and 23. The auction includes one of Ireland’s largest private collections of clocks and timepieces and the pewter collection of the late Geoffrey O’Connor of Co. Kerry. The catalogue cover is a 19th century brass skeleton mantel clock in the form of the Sir Walter Scott monument in Edinburgh from the collection of Michael Guerin, who died in 2015. It is estimated at 700-1,000.There are unique Irish clocks including both long case and a double fusee wall clock with an intricate case carving by Chancellor and Son of Dublin as well as English, French and German clocks.

An early watercolour View of Reginald’s Tower in Waterford by John George Mulvany (1766-1838) is certain to arouse local interest (1,200-1,800). The pewter collection includes work by the highly collectible Austen and Son of North Main St., Cork.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for March 14, 2016)

A skeleton clock (700-1,000). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 1,180

An early watercolour of Waterford, A view of Reginald’s Tower by John George Mulvany (1766-1838) (1,200-1,800) UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 6,000

A set of five Irish pewter hay stack measures by Austen and Son, North Main St., Cork (400-600).

A Killarney davenport (5,000-6,000). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 5,400

Tags: Killarney davenport, mealy's, Skeleton Clock
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THE SHOES OF ANDY WARHOL

Saturday, March 19th, 2016

A complete portfolio of hand-coloured lithographs of shoe designs by Andy Warhol – À la recherche du shoe perdu – together with Shoe and Leg, produced c1955 comes up at Sotheby’s in London on March 22. Warhol was a commercial illustrator for fashion magazines and advertising agencies, and in 1955 he was appointed the sole illustrator of the I. Miller shoe campaign. Warhol made new drawings of shoes each week for advertisements in The New York Times and À la recherche du shoe perdu links directly to his work for I. Miller. Shoes became Warhol’s signature product. In the early 1960s, he moved to the more commercial Pop imagery with which he is now associated.

The hand-colouring was done by Warhol and his friends – with Dr. Martin’s aniline watercolour dyes – often during ‘colouring parties’. As such, each print is unique. It has been estimated that approximately 100 of each illustration were produced. The captions were written by American poet, Ralph Pomeroy, and transcribed in distinctive calligraphy by Warhol’s mother, Julia Warhola. The text often directly references popular culture, whether Alfred Hitchcock (‘Dial M for Shoe’), Gertrude Stein (‘The Autobiography of Alice B. Shoe’) or Marcel Proust – the title of the portfolio is a riff on Proust’s famous novel À la recherche du temps perdu (In Search of Lost Time, or Remembrance of Things Past). The portfolio of 18 prints is estimated at £100,000-150,000. They come up at Sotheby’s sale of Prints and Multiples.

UPDATE: The Warhol portfolio made £293,000 in a sale which realised £3.2 million.

ANDY WARHOL
1928 – 1987
A LA RECHERCHE DU SHOE PERDU; AND SHOE AND LEG

ANDY WARHOL
1928 – 1987

Tags: Andy Warhol shoes, sotheby's
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A LANDMARK SALE OF SHAKESPEARE’S FIRST FOLIOS AT CHRISTIE’S

Friday, March 18th, 2016

Shakespeare – The First Editions

A landmark sale of the first four folios, the first four editions of Shakespeare’s collected works takes place at Christie’s in London in May. The Folios will be offered in a four-lot auction commemorating 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) on May 25. The sale is led by an unrecorded copy of the First Folio, the first collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays, widely considered the most important literary publication in the English language. The First Folio contains 36 plays, 18 of which had not previously been printed and would have otherwise been lost forever. It is estimated at £800,000-1.2 million.

The plays of Shakespeare, preserved for posterity in these volumes, define our knowledge of Shakespeare the man, the playwright, the poet and the actor. The Four Folios will tour to New York from 1 to 8 April 1 to April 8 and go on public display in London from April 20 to 28 April to celebrate Shakespeare’s 400^thanniversary on April 23.

Margaret Ford, International Head of Books & Manuscripts, says: “The universality and timelessness of Shakespeare’s insight into human nature continues to engage and enthrall audiences the world over. Even four centuries after his death, his plays touch and transform lives and continue to be read and performed from Albania to Zambia. It is deeply moving to handle the first printed record of his collected plays and to be reminded of their tremendous impact. Especially exhilarating is bringing a newly recorded copy of the First Folio to public attention, and to be able to offer a set of the Four Folios in this important anniversary year.”

Tags: Christie's, First Folios, Shakespeare
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A KINSALE SILVER BOWL WITH ALMOST MYTHICAL STATUS

Tuesday, March 15th, 2016

The Kinsale Silver bowl

A Kinsale silver bowl with an almost mythical status has surfaced with well known silver dealer William Crofton of L and W Duvallier, Dublin and London. A second generation dealer of 40 years standing Crofton said the piece – made by Robert Armstrong around 1750 – is the rarest provincial bowl he has ever had.

“It is very hard to describe the feeling you get when you see such a fantastic piece out of the blue. I believe only enthusiast’s or collectors regardless of what they collect can truly relate to it” he said. “As I turned the bowl over it was like time stood still and it took me an extra couple of seconds for my brain to workout exactly what I was looking at. It is the only time I have ever come across this maker in real life in nearly 40 years”.

There are less than six pieces known to have been made by Robert Armstrong. The definitive work on Cork Silversmiths by John Bowen with Conor O’Brien makes the point that Kinsale’s ancient significance derived from its position as the most important sea port on the southern coast of Ireland. A nearly identical bowl by Robert Armstrong is illustrated in Irish Georgian Silver by Douglas Bennett. Bowls of this type of different sizes were made throughout Ireland in the first half of the 18th century as speciality items. This one is on offer with a price tag of around 45,000 euro.

Tags: Kinsale Silver, L and W Duvallier, ROBERT ARMSTRONG
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LARGE BRONZE OF DANIEL O’CONNELL AT MEALY’S

Monday, March 14th, 2016

In the season of history and memorabilia in Ireland it is worth noting that an unusual large scale bronze of Daniel O’Connell comes up at Mealy’s sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on March 22-23. Inscribed NY and dated 1881 it is by American Denis B Sheahan (fl 1870-1900) and is estimated at 2,000-3,000. The auction will include one of Ireland’s largest private collections of clocks and other timepieces from the estate of the late Mr Michael Guerin (1937-2015) whose lifelong passion for collecting and the careful restoration of antique clocks has led to this outstanding and varied collection of over 100 clocks & timepieces from across Ireland and Europe and the collection of the late Mr Geoffrey O’Connor of Co. Kerry, a Pewter Society member, including his pewter collection. The catalogue is online. Here is a small selection:

Daniel O’Connell by Denis B Sheahan (2,000-3,000)

An 18th century red chinoiserie lacquered long case clock by James Defontaine, London c1735 (3,000-4,000). UPDATE: THIS SOLD FOR 5,600

A pair of 12 branch crystal chandeliers (5,000-6,000)

A c1800 Irish soup ladle by William Fitzgerald, Limerick (4,000-5,000).

Eugene Pavy – Falcon Hunt (7-00-1,200).

An Irish William IV serving table (1,500-2,500).

An Anglo-Indian sandalwood and ivory workbox (1,000-1,500).

Tags: Daniel O'Connell, mealy's
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FISCHER-SPASSKY MATCH RECALLED IN LONDON AUCTION

Monday, March 14th, 2016

A selection of Lothar Schmid’s historic chess pieces.

One of the most important collections of early chess pieces – from the collection of Lothar Schmid referee of the historic match between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky – comes up at Sotheby’s in London on April 20. Each piece carries huge significance in the evolution of the game throughout Persia and the Middle East. Highlights include an almost complete 10^th-century set (£20,000-30,000). Lothar Schmid (1928-2013) a ‘Grandmaster’ is famed for refereeing what became known as the “Match of the Century”. The 1972 Cold War face-off between the American challenger Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky of the Soviet Union was staged in neutral Reykjavik. Fischer won.

Schmid assembled one of the greatest collections of historic chess pieces, as well as a vast collection of books relating to the game. The library is said to be the world’s largest and most complete, comprising more than 50,000 volumes on the subject. It includes rare copies such as the first printed chess book, dated 1497. The collection, estimated at £73,800-117,200, will feature as part of Sotheby’s Arts of the Islamic World sale. T

Tags: Bobby Fischer, Boris Spassky, chess, sotheby's
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PROCLAMATION MAKES 185,000 AT HAMMER AT WHYTE’S

Sunday, March 13th, 2016

This original copy of the Proclamation sold for a hammer price of 185,000 at Whyte’s today.

An original copy of the Irish Proclamation sold for 185,000 at Whye’s sale of History and Literature in Dublin this afternoon. It was a busy auction that exhibited a huge appetite for memorabilia and collectibles in this centenary year of the Irish Rising. A bottle of 100 year old whiskey, which Whyte’s believe to be the oldest bottle of Irish whiskey ever offered at auction, sold for a hammer price of 15,000. Eamon de Valera’s 1917 prison autograph book from Dartmoor sold for 5,400 and a collection of memorial posters of leaders of The Rising sold for 4,800 at hammer. Seven examples of 1966 50th anniversary silver ten shilling coins made 2,000 and 1916 Rising medals awarded to husband and wife James and Margaret Joyce sold for a hammer price of 6,800. Three unpublished photographs of Roger Casement on board a German submarine bound for Ireland sold for 4,200.

Many lots exceeded their top estimate. The sale grossed 570,000 and was 82 per cent sold.

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for March 4, 2016).

Tags: Irish Proclamation, Roger Casement, Whyte's
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PELÉ THE COLLECTION AT JULIEN’S AUCTIONS IN JUNE

Thursday, March 10th, 2016

Pelé The Collection – with over 2,000 lots – is to be offered by Julien’s Auctions in London in June. The three time World Cup Champion, FIFA Player of the Century and Brazilian football icon is to sell his vast collection of awards, memorabilia, personal property and iconic items spanning his entire career for the first time. They will be sold on June 7, 8 and 9 at Julien’s Auctions.

This global sports icon known to the world as Pelé won the World Cup in 1958, 1962 and 1970. Although just 5’ 8” tall, Pelé was a giant on the field leading his Brazilian team Santos FC to many championships. Pelé: The Collection is unprecedented and extraordinary. It covers every stage of his career — both personal and professional. Among many highlights are his Jules Rimet Trophy ($400,000-$600.000), his 1958, 1962 and 1970 World Cup Medals ($100,000-$200,000), his 1,000th goal ball ($40,000-$60,000), his 1977 NY Cosmos NASL Championship ring ($30,000-$40,000) and the L’Equipe Athlete of the Century Award ($20,000-$30,000). The collection will be exhibited at The Mall Galleries in London from June 1-6 and three days of live and online auctions over six sessions get underway on June 7.

PELÉ JULES RIMET TROPHY

PELÉ 1958 FIFA WORLD CUP WINNER’S MEDAL

PELÉ 1970s BRAZIL NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM GAME WORN JERSEY

A “World Record” certificate presented to Pelé by the Guinness Book of Records for the most career goals (1,279 in total).

Tags: Juliens Auctions, PELÉ
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LATE 19TH CENTURY ITALIAN SCULPTURE THE TOP LOT AT FONSIE MEALY

Wednesday, March 9th, 2016

Cristoforo Vicari (b1848) – a carved marble sculpture of a woodland nymph.

This soup ladle by Samuel Johns, Limerick sold for 7,600.

This sauce ladle by Samuel Johns, Limerick sold for 7,600.

This 19th century Italian carved marble sculpture of a woodland nymph was the top lot at Fonsie Mealy’s sale in Castlecomer, Co. Kilkenny on March 8. By Cristoforo Vicari and mounted on a large green marble plinth it made 50,000 on the hammer. An 18th century carved carrara marble fireplace from Wolfe Tone’s house in Dublin made 36,000, a gilt mounted Vernis Martin kingwood display cabinet made 12,ooo, a 19th century diorama in two sections of a working factory staffed by mice made 10,000, a collection of ten South African one ounce gold Krugerrands, nine from 1974 and one from 1972, sold for 9,500 and a pair of fine cast Irish George II silver candlesticks sold for 9,000.

An 18th century sauce ladle by Samuel Johns, Limerick c1750 sold for 7,600, four Irish William IV carved armchairs made 8,500, an early 18th century Irish carved oak table made 8,000 and a three quarter length portrait of John MacNamara of Moyreisk, Co. Clare made 5,400. A large George III style carved gilt wood over mantle originally at Clontarf Castle sold for 3,000.

The auction realised 480,000 on the hammer.

(See posts on antiquesandartireland.com for March 7 and March 2, 2016).

Tags: Cristoforo Vicari, Fonsie Mealy
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WOLFE TONE’S CARRARA CHIMNEYPIECE AT FONSIE MEALY AUCTION

Monday, March 7th, 2016

The fireplace from Wolfe Tone’s house in Dublin inset with the grate from Elizabeth Bowen’s home in Cork. UPDATE: The fireplace made 36,000.

Wolfe Tone’s fireplace will come up at Fonsie Mealy’s Chatsworth spring fire art sale in Castlecomer on March 8. The 18th century Carrara marble chimney piece was rescued from the front drawing room at the home of the Irish Revolutionary leader and founding member of the United Irishmen who died in 1798 at 44 Stafford St., Dublin (now Wolfe Tone St.) around 1960 by the present owner. It is estimated at 15,000-20,000.

The grate in the image is from the bedroom of novelist and short story writer Elizabeth Bowen at Bowen’s Court in Co. Cork. The iron framed grate made around 1760-70 is estimated at 1,000-1,500. The catalogue for the auction of 765 lots is online.

UPDATE: The fireplace was sold for 36,000

(See post on antiquesandartireland.com for March 2, 2016).

Tags: Elizabeth Bowen, Fonsie Mealy, Wolfe Tone
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Archive for the ‘COLLECTIBLES’ Category

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